29 family holiday tips to nail your next trip to Queensland

1. Do your research

It pays to be prepared when travelling with kids. Not just so you book a great place to stay and know what to do, but what you may need to bring - or not bring. In many places from campgrounds to hotels, you can hire gear like portable cots, swings, prams and walkers, rather than lug them on a flight or road trip. 

2. Show before you go

Put those inquisitive minds to work and talk to your toddler or child about the upcoming holiday. Little ones benefit from understanding what will happen next. If it’s the first time flying or travelling by boat, it’s a great idea to use storybooks to chat about the mode of transport.

3. BYO babysitter

Invite the grandparents or eager aunties, uncles and best mates along for part of your holiday so you can enjoy some time with your other half or just to yourself. Travelling with just yourselves? Find out if your hotel or resort has a kids club. 

Where to go on a holiday with kids

4. Keep it simple with a beach break

Wherever there’s water, there's happy kids. The sensation of sinking their hands and feet in the sand, waves breaking across their toes and floating in the calm waters of a sheltered beach are all little kids need between nap and meal times.

Don’t overthink the itinerary. Book a worry-free holiday by Queensland’s family-friendly beaches near the Whitsundays’ Whitehaven Beach, Fraser Island’s Lake McKenzie, Stradbroke’s Cylinder Beach, the Gold Coast's endless stretches, and Tangalooma Island Resort on Moreton Island.

Destinations like Burleigh Heads, Caloundra and Hervey Bay have wide-open and safe spaces to explore beaches, boardwalks, parks and rainforests.

5. Get on island time

If you’re visiting the Great Barrier Reef for the first time, visit an island. Island hopping on the Great Barrier Reef is best because it gives the kids a break from the boat action and a chance to burn some energy and run around. 

Try Fitzroy or Green Island if you’re heading out to the reef from Cairns, or Daydream Island Resort in the Whitsundays, which has an incredible Living Reef to explore, touch and learn. Lady Elliot Island in the Southern Great Barrier Reef has an eco resort and kids programs that'll have them becoming marine life warriors in no time. 

There's plenty more ideas in our family Great Barrier Reef guide, plus how to experience it with a toddler.

6. Never underestimate a theme park

Spend your family holiday on rides, slides and meeting animals on the Gold Coast (aka theme park HQ). Dreamworld, Movie World and Sea World have rides for kids of all ages. If you’d rather slide as a family, try WhiteWater World or Wet'n'Wild. Get ahead of the crowds and sleepover at Sea World Resort to get early access to SeaWorld.

If you’re still not sure which theme park to let your kids loose on, try this quiz on for size.

7. Meet mother nature 

Start your kids’ love for the outdoors early with a hiking holiday in amongst lush rainforests. From the Gold Coast, head to Springbrook National Park and start small on the Natural Bridge Circuit. It’s an easy 1km shaded walk through an ancient rainforest where you’ll see the natural arch, waterfalls and caves. Twin Falls Circuit is a 4km or two-hour hike with views across the valley. The kids will be rewarded for their hard work with a swim in the rock pools and walk behind the falls.

Test your family’s hiking skills along Gladstone's Paperbark Trail or Great Keppel Island’s network of walking tracks including a hike over the headlands down to Monkey Beach.

For more family-friendly hiking options, take on one of the eight multi-purpose tracks that make up the Noosa Trail Network. You can limit the trails for little people and park at one of the lookouts and walk in between smaller sections of the bigger trails.

8. Walk with the animals

Take your kid’s excitement for their favourite animal stories and nursery rhymes and theme a holiday around meeting animals face to face. Meet turtles on Lady Elliot or Heron Island, wave hello to whale calves in Hervey Bay or spot a koala in the wild at Noosa National Park or Magnetic Island. 

If your kids can’t get enough of ‘Old McDonald’ renditions, take their lead and meet some farm animals at Australia Zoo, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary or Paradise Country. For the full farm-stay experience, give your kids the chance to get hands-on feeding farm animals on a farm stay weekend.

Need a little more inspiration? Here's a few of our favourite Queensland family holiday ideas. 

What to pack for a family holiday

9. Prams save tired little legs

Prams can save a family holiday, especially if your kids ages vary between 'tires easily' and 'endless energy'. With a pram, the little ones can chill out and rest their little legs while the adventures continue.

10. Be sun smart

Queensland has endless sunshine, so be prepared for it with a large beach bag, a sun umbrella or shelter, reusable swim nappies, broad-brimmed hats with a cord and long-sleeved rashies and swimmers. Don’t forget a large beach towel or picnic mat, hooded beach towels for the littlies, water bottles, snacks, beach or pool toys and your phone or camera to capture the special moments.

11. Floaties for peace of mind

An inexpensive back float is an absolute essential item for little ones exploring the water, and they'll help the whole family enjoy a beach day or afternoon resort swim.  

12. Give your bub a bird’s eye view

Carriers are great for giving your kids a bird’s-eye view of the trip and are especially helpful in navigating through busy areas like markets or hiking through national parks.

13. Take a little bit of home with you

You can’t take everything with you, but it’s sometimes nice for toddlers to have some home comforts. One or two favourite toys will win them over during trying times or transport, while bringing sheets or pillowcases from home may help restless kids sleep a little more soundly in the hotel. 

14. Bring your bag of tricks

Keep your kid’s attention by rolling out activities one-at-a-time. Finger puppets, stickers, multi-coloured post-it notes, even a photo book of familiar faces will help to occupy a curious toddler.

Store activities in the one ‘bag of tricks’ and keep this close to you. Always pack a fresh set of activities for the trip home and plan a new activity for every 60 minutes of travel. Save electronic devices for when you have exhausted all other entertainment options.

15. Don't forget the medicine

Create a family-travel first aid kit that includes paracetamol, teething gel, thermometer, nasal spray, travel-sickness bags and any other usual medications you might need.

Accommodation family holiday tips

16. Choose a hotel or resort with a kid-friendly pool

Your kids will love splashing around the shallow end until they’re more confident swimmers. Lagoon-style pools are a particular favourite as they allow younger and less-confident swimmers to play at a depth that they’re comfortable with. You’ll find a few kid-friendly resorts right here, many with their own water parks!

17. Choose accommodation with a laundry

Whether you have a washing machine in your room or a communal laundry, it’s great to be able to wash clothes while you’re away because kids will be kids, and that generally means mess.

18. Ask the concierge

Don’t be afraid to ask a hotel or resort concierge for extra help with your toddler. Many hotels and resorts are well-equipped with high-chairs, portacots, even umbrella strollers for you to borrow. 

19. Stay close to the action

It reduces the time the kids get impatient (or fall asleep right when you don’t want them to) and they can get to the beach, pool, boardwalk, park quickly and easily, which means more time for holiday fun.

Here's more accommodation tips for babies and toddlers too. 

Flying tips for family holidays

20. Distract with new things

Offer your little one a new toy or book when you begin the journey to keep them entertained. A flight hammock also helps offer a little extra space for playtime and naptime. 

21. Fly off-peak

Pick flights that appear to be less popular than others. You'll have a better chance of getting that extra seat, plus boarding and disembarking will be less stressful. Here's a few more tips to help you get through the flight (without disowning your kids).

Road trip family holiday tips

22. Off-road success

When four-wheel driving, use a small towel rolled up to help keep sleeping kids’ heads steady in their car seat. 

23. Snack time rules

Food can be a great distraction in the car or waiting in a queue. Little packets of sultanas can be strung out for a long time if needed, handed diligently out one at a time in a line or long drive. 

Some final family holiday tips

24. Encourage budding photographers

Hand over your phone and let the kids take photos and videos so you can all create memories. If they are up to writing, get them to keep a holiday diary or draw their favourite activity of each day. It’s fun to see what the kids find interesting about being out of their regular routine.

When you get home, create a photo book with the kids and even scan some of their diary or drawings to add to the memory bank. You’ll be able to look back on your family holiday for years to come (and remember to plan another one).

25. Embrace slow travel

Travelling with kids is very different to travelling alone or as a couple. When travelling, remember that everything is new and exciting for your little adventurers and it’s not just about your destination but all the fun activities you can do along the way.

26. It’s the simple things

Kids love exploring new worlds and while they like to be busy, they also love to take their time to explore. They will feel new texture with sand between their toes or digging in the dirt.

Learn new words like “moo” when they see their first cow up close on a farm stay. Have a piggyback ride with dad on a bushwalk or just splash in the water. You will create memories by keeping it simple.

28. Use your holiday to try new things you wouldn’t at home

Eat at a restaurant, try your mini-me on new foods, and use the surroundings to keep them entertained. You may be pleasantly surprised.

29. Make use of free activities and attractions

Make the most of the free entry to attractions while it lasts. One of the most brilliant things about toddler travel is that they often gain free entry to theme parks and attractions.

Check out the website for articles on free activities in popular destinations from Brisbane and the Gold Coast to Cairns and Townsville, as well as school holiday ideas.